Spring seat and back construction



Dec. 9, 1952 H. H. OOTHOUDT SPRING SEAT AND BACK CONSTRUCTION 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1950 i if INVENTOR.

BY /W) M JLM Dec. 9, 1952 H. H. OOTHOUDT 2,620,861

SPRING SEAT AND BACK CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 14, 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 IN V EN TOR WKW a Ma M Patented Dec. 9, 1952 SPRING SEAT AND BACK CONSTRUCTION Howard H. Outhoudt, Wichita, Kans., assignor to Mueller Furniture 00., Grand Rapids, Mich, a

limited partnership Application December 14, 1950, Serial No. 200,841

. 13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in spring seat and back constructions for chairs, sofas, automobile seats and the like. The novel spring construction of this invention is adapted for tight seat upholstery as well as cushioned upholstery.

As is well known, much of the upholstered furniture constructions in use and available today include webbing or strings that are liable to stretch, sag or brake. These constructions have the further disadvantage that the larger the size in which they are made, the greater the tendency to stretch, sag and break, and the more difficult it is to achieve a durable construction that is substantially uniform in its supporting functions throughout the supporting area.

With these limitations and disadvantages in mind, it is the principal purpose of this invention to provide a spring seat or back construction of multiple leaf spring units that can readily be combined to what ever size is desired and which, when used together, will provide a trouble-free uniformly acting supporting surface of any desired size.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a frame-supported seat or back construction comprising essentially two or more continuous leaf springmembers having an upper and a lower leg and extending side by side in spaced relation with tension spring means connecting one set of ends to the frame, and one or more tension imposing members connecting the other set of ends thereto.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a metallic seat or back construction'embodying a plurality of leaf spring members of generally V-shape arranged side by side, with compression spring means disposed between the free nd portions of their legs.

A more specific object resides in the provision of a spring construction of this character that is supported in a frame by tension springs at one end and lengthwise adjustable rigid supports at the otherend adapted to maintain tension on the tension springs and to permit movement there along.

These and other more specific objects contributing to economy in manufacture and satisfaction in use will be more fully understood from the fully detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side perspective view of a combination of seat and back units embodying the novel spring construction;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the combination of Fig. 1 showing the application of cushions and upholstery to the'spring seat and back of a chair or sofa;

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view showing certain details of the spring'seat construction of Fig. 1; and r r Fig. 4 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 2 showing the manner in which the spring seat and back constructions may be embodied in an upholstered automobile seat or the like.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, a combination unit It! is shown to comprise a horizontal seat l2 and an inclined back I4, as they-appear before the application of cushions or upholstery covers.

It will be noted that the seat [2' and back l4 have an integral or common frame iii of wood or other suitable construction material.

The seat unit l2 includes a rectangular frame I8 having opposed front and rear bars 20 and 22 and side bars, 24, 24,with a plurality of generally V-shaped leaf spring members 26 arranged and supported in spaced parallel planes perpendicular to the general plane of the seat frame l8. These leaf spring members 26 can be fabricated in a variety of ways, but it is preferred to shape them from a single leaf or flat strip of spring metal, to provide a longer upper leg 28 and a shorter horizontally extending lower leg 30 having a rearward connecting portion 32 therebetween. The arrangement is such that the spring strips lie in the common planes defined by their upper and lower legs 28 and 30. The approximate V-shape is not symmetrical because the vertically extending connecting portion 32 makes an approximate right angle with the lower leg 30 and a substantially larger angle with the upper leg 28. The angle between upper leg 28 and lower leg 30 is sharply acute.

For purposes of mounting and stiffening, each lower leg 30 has a forward downturned end 34, and is connected with the next adjacent spring member 26 by a rearward spring strip 36, which may be riveted or tack welded to the undersides thereof. The forward downturned ends 34 are securely connected together in similar manner by a forward metallic strip 38 secured to the backs of said ends by riveting or'welding.

An upper strip 42 of spring metal is likewise secured across the ends of the longer upper legs 28 and on the top sides thereof in the same manner that has been described; Other and similar transverse strips 44 and 46 are secured tend through th front frame bar 26 and the spring strip 38 connecting the downturned ends 34, intermediate the spaced leaf spring members 26. The front bar is formedwith a portion upstanding beyond the sidebars 24 for. thus mounting the bolts 52. Each bolt 52 includes a wing or other nut 54 engagingthe rear sideof.

the connecting strip 38. A coil" compression spring 56 is interposed between the back: ofthe.

front bar 20 and the front of the connecting strips 38'- so that forward sliding movement of the lower legs of the V-shaped spring members 26 is yieldingly resisted whilea floating action is provided.

At-the rearward ends-of the V-shaped spring members 26 a pair of tension springs 58, 58. is used as the sole support means between each pair of said V-shaped spring members and the rear frame bar 22. The front ends of the springs. 58 are anchored in therearward spring strip 36 and the opposite ends are similarly anchored in a plate Gllfirmly secured as-by screws 62 to the top edge of thebar 22, as mostclearly shown in Fig. 3.

The compression strength of the set of V-shaped leaf spring members 26 is-augmented by a plurality of coiled compression springs 64 extending between the lower leg connecting strip and the top leg connecting strip- 44 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The respective ends of the springs 64 are anchored in place on the opposed strips 40 and in a conventional manner such as by clips or rivets carriedby said strips, which it. is not believed necessary to illustrate.

As the back I4 is quite similar in construction to the seat I2' which has been described in detail,

only a rather general explanation will be given. The back [4 of the combination unit In has an upstanding frame formed by a top bar 10, a bottom bar 12 disposed rearwardly of the-seat bar 22,

andopposite side bars 14, 14', all of which are supported on the rear of the seat frame H! as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 2 the chair or sofa nature of the construction is indicated by a plurality of legs, L, L extending below the seat frame l8.

In the back construction a plurality of similar V-shaped leaf spring members 2811 are used in the same general manner with their connecting portions 32a uppermost. Each spring member 26a comprises a relatively long upper or forward leg and short lower or rearward leg, these members being maintained in spaced parallel relation by upper leg connecting strips 44a and 46a, and lower leg connecting strips 36a, 38a, and 40a. A plurality of adjustable bolts 5211 each having a nut 54a and carrying a compression spring 55a (Fig. 2), extend through the bottom bar 12 and the lower leg connecting strip 38a in the same manner as before. At the upper end of the back It a plurality of tension springs 58a have their ends connected respectively with strip 36a and plates 50a which latter are secured by screws 62a to the top bar 10.

It will be noted in connection with the spring construction of the back l4 that the compression springs 64a are mounted between the V-shaped leaf spring members 26a at a position more remote from the free ends of their legs than is the case with seat 12, because maximum stress on the back will occur at such position.

The assembled combination unit illustrated by Fig. 2 has a seat cushion 16, a back cushion I8, and a seatt-skirt cushion' 80, .all.oftwhich-.may be of: conventional padding. material or combinations, such for example, as hair, felt and foam rubber. A cover 82 for the cushion 16 and a cover 84 for. the cushion 18, both covers being preferably offabric'material, extend over the edges of. the:cushionsxandbetween their abutting edges in the: smoothzfinish way shown in the drawings.

'I lie2b'order"wire'-.48.is used to mount and secure the. sides.v of theseat cover 82 and also the adjacent edge of a cover 86 for the skirt cushion 80.

Either the fixed lengths of the flexible seat cover material connected between the border wire 48 =and.the.-seat frame. I8, or separateauxiliary means. of. equivalent charactenserve to maintain the compression springs. 64. in a partially compressed normalcondition that keeps the cover material taut and provides proper yielding resistance to body weight. In the case of theback l4- the. fastening of the. lower and: upper concealedportions of. cover 84. to. the back I 4 accomplishes the same general purpose.

It will be observed in. this. connection that the nuts 54- and 54a and the springs 56, 56a of the adjusting bolts 52, 52a. are readily accessible from the bottom and back respectively and that the auxiliary compression springs 64 and 64a. can readily be replaced Without-disturbing thecushions and other upholstery material.

Fig. 4 clearly shows the manner in which the spring seat and back constructions with their upholstery'can be adapted to automobile-or similar vehicle construction. In this embodiment the seat IZ-a is supported directly by the floor F and the: sharper angle which it makes with the back. Ma. is in accordance with the requirements for such seat constructions. As before, seat, back and skirt cushions 16a, 18a and. a are employed in the same manner and finished with covering materials.

From the foregoing detailed descriptions of preferred embodiments it will be apparent that the various spring seat and back constructions may embody any multiple of the units comprising a spaced connected pair of the generally V-shapedleaf spring members 26, a frame having more or less parallel opposed bars at the ends of the spring members and supported by tension spring means on one bar, and tension adjusting and slidable mounting means at the otherbar. This basically novel construction offers the outstanding advantages of durability, simplicity, adjustability, uniformity of spring support in any size, quietness in use, and adaptability to many forms of furniture manufacture.

While a preferred embodiment and several modifications thereof have been disclosed in detail, it will be understood that such disclosure is by way of illustration and not of limitation, and

that various changes can be made in details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A spring unit construction for the seats or backs of chairs and the like, comprising a-supaez ser port frame including a pair of opposed and generally parallel bar members; a pair of leaf spring members extending in spaced parallelism between said bar members, each leaf spring member being formed with a lower leg portion approximately coplanar with the top portions of said bar members, a vertically spaced upper leg portion.

inclined at an acute angle to the lower leg portion, and a spacer portion joining the more closely spaced ends of said leg portions; means including a tension spring connecting the joined ends of said leaf spring members with one of said frame bars; and tension spring tightening means including a rigid elongated member extending from the other bar in the direction of said leaf spring members and connected with the adjacent ends of the lower leg portions. i

2. A spring unit construction for the seats or backs of chairs and the'like, comprising a support frame including a pair of opposed and generally parallel bar members; a plurality of leaf spring members extending in spaced parallelism between said bar members, each leaf spring member being formed with a lower leg portion approximately coplanar with the top portions of said bar members, a vertically spaced upper leg portion inclined at an acute angle to the lower leg portion, and a spacer portion joining the more closely spaced ends of said leg portions; means including tension springs connecting the joined ends of said leaf spring members with one of said frame bars; and rod means extending from the other bar in the direction of said leaf spring members and connected with the adjacent ends of the lower leg portions, said rod means maintaining said tension springs under tension.

3. A spring unit construction for the seats or backs of chairs and the like, comprising a support frame including a pair of opposed and generally parallel bar members; a plurality of generally V-shaped leaf springs extending in spaced parallelism between said bar members, each leaf spring being formed with a lower leg approximately coplanar with the top portions of said bar members, and a vertically spaced and longer upper leg inclined at an acute angle to the lower leg and a strip connecting together the free ends of said lower legs; means including a pair of tension springs connecting the joined ends of said leaf springs with one of said bar members; and means including a bolt extending from the other bar in the direction of said leaf springs and slidably interengaging and supporting the strip connecting the free ends of the lower legs; and a compression spring on said bolt acting between said other bar and the strip connecting the free ends of the lower legs.

4. A spring unit construction for the seats or backs of chairs and the like, comprising a frame having first and second opposed and generally parallel bars; a plurality of generally V-shaped leaf spring members extending in parallelism between said bars with one leg of each spring member lying in a common plane outside said frame; first spacing means secured across the other leg of each spring member adjacent the first bar; second spacing means secured across said other leg of each spring member adjacent the second bar; a plurality of adjustable length fastening means connecting the first bar and the first spacing means at spaced points; and a plurality of tension springs connecting said second spacing means to said second bar at spaced points.

5. A spring unit construction for the seats or backs of chairs and the like, comprising a frame having first and second opposed and generally parallel bars; a plurality of generally V-shaped leaf spring members extending in parallelism between said bars with one leg of each spring member lying in a common plane outside said frame; first spacing means secured across the other leg of each spring member adjacent the first bar; second spacing means secured across the other leg of each spring member adjacent the second bar; a plurality of adjustable length bolts connecting the first bar and the first spacing means at spaced points; a plurality of tension springs connecting said second spacing means to said second bar at spaced points; and means including a plurality of compression springs acting between the opposed legs of said V-shaped leaf spring members.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5 with flexible means of fixed length connecting the legs lyingoutside said frame with said first bar and normally maintaining said compression springs in partially compressed condition.

'7. A spring unit construction for the seats or backs of chairs and the like, comprising a frame having first and second opposed and generally parallel bars; a plurality of generally V-shaped leaf spring members extending in parallelism between said bars with one leg of each Springmember lying in a common plane outside said frame; first spacing means secured across the other leg of each spring member adjacent the first bar; second spacing means secured across said other leg of each spring member adjacent the second bar; a plurality of adjustable length fastenin means connecting the first bar and the first spacing means at spaced points, a plurality of tension springs connecting said second spacing means to said second bar at spaced points; and a plurality of compression springs interposed between the opposed legs of said V-shaped leaf spring members.

8. A spring seat construction for chairs and the like, comprising a frame having a front bar and a rear bar; a plurality of generally V-shaped flat spring disposed between the front and rear bars with one leg of each fiat spring lying in a plane above the frame; a first spring strip secured across the front portions of the lowermost leg of each V-shaped leaf spring member; a second spring strip secured across the rear portions of the lowermost leg of each V-shaped leaf spring member, said strips maintaining said V- shaped spring members in spaced, parallel vertical planes; a plurality of tension springs connecting said second spring strip to said rear frame bar at spaced points; a plurality of adjustable length rod members extending between and connecting said first spring strip and said front frame bar; and means including compression springs mounted between the front portions of the legs of the V-shaped leaf members to augment the spring action thereof.

9. A spring seat construction for chairs and the like, comprising a frame having first and second opposed and generally parallel bars; a plurality of generally V-shaped leaf spring mem bers extending in parallelism between said bars with one leg of each spring member lying in a common plane outside said frame, the free end of the other leg of each spring member being downturned; first spacing means secured to the downturned end of each of the other legs of the spring members; second spacing means secured across the other leg of each spring member adjacent the second bar; a plurality of adjustable length asse fastening rods connecting the first barandthe first spa ms means at spaced points; a plurality of tension springs connecting said second spacing means to said second. bar at spaced points; a plurality of compression springs interposed between intermediate portions of the opposed legs of said V-shaped leaf sprin members; and flexible means securing the free ends of the legs outside the frame to the frame to partially compress said compression Springs.

10. A spring seat construction for chairs and the like, comprising a frame having a front bar and a rear bar; a plurality of generally V-shaped leaf spring members disposed between the front and rear barswith one leg of each spring member lying in a plane'above the frame; a first spring strip secured across thefront portions of the lowermost leg of each V-shaped leaf spring member; asecond spring strip secured across the rear portions of thelowermost leg of each V- shaped leaf spring member; a plurality of spring strips secured across the uppermost legs of the V-shaped leaf spring member, said strips maintaining said V-shaped spring members in spaced parallel vertical planes; a border Wire secured around the sides and free ends of the uppermost legs; a plurality of adjusting bolts extending between and connecting said first spring strip and said front frame bar; means including compressionsprings mounted between the front portions of the legs of the V-shaped leaf members to augment the spring action thereof; and flexible means of fixed length connecting the border wire to said frame to compress the compression springs.

11. A spring seat construction for chairs and the like, comprising a frame having a front bar and a rear bar and a plurality of generally V- shaped leaf spring members disposed between the front and rear bars, a first spring strip secured across the front portions of the lowermost leg of each V-shaped leaf spring member, and a second spring strip secured across the rear portions of the lowermost leg of each V-shaped leaf spring member, said strips maintaining said V- shaped spring members in spaced parallel vertical planes, a plurality of tension springs connecting said second spring strip to said rear frame bar at spaced points, a plurality of adjusting bolts extending between and connecting said first spring strip and said front frame bar, and means including compression springs mounted between the front portions of the legs of the V-shaped leaf members to augment the spring action thereof.

12. A combined seat and back unit, comprising a frame structure forming a seat frame and a back frame extending upwardly adjacent the rear of the seat frame; a first set of generally V- shaped leaf spring members extending in spaced parallelism to the seat frame; transversely extending strips connected to and maintaining said first set of spring members in spaced relation; tension springs connecting the joined ends of said first set of spring members to the rear of said seat frame; adjustable length tensioning means connecting the legs of said first set of spring members lowermost relative said seat frame to the'front of said seat frame; a second set of generally V-shaped leaf spring members extending in spaced parallelism to the back frame; transversely extendingstrips connected to and maintaining said second set of spring members in spaced relation; tension springs connecting the joined ends, of said second set of spring members to the top of said back frame; and adjustable length tensioning means connecting the more rearward legs of said second set of spring members to the bottom of said back frame.

13. A spring unit construction for the seats or backs of chairs and the like, comprising a frame having first and second opposed and generally parallel bars; a plurality of generally V-shaped leaf spring members extending in parallelism between said bars with one leg of each spring member lying in a plane outside the frame; supporting means including a rigid member extending from the first bar and connected with corresponding end portions of the other legs of said spring members; and means including a tension spring connecting the joined end portions of said spring members with the second bar.

HOWARD H. OOTHOUDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 1,222,175 Bobrick Apr. 10, 1917 1,774,696 Bernstein Sept. 2, 1930 2,318,583 Bernstein May 11, 1943 2,340,551 Morrison et a1 Feb. 1, 1944 

